Solutions In Sight? Checking Lebanon’s Pulse

As quoted in the recent edition (Issue 734) of Lebanon This Week, published by the Economic Research and Analysis Department of Byblos Bank, “Given the intensity of the compounding crises in Lebanon, it is the responsibility and duty of all political actors to work together to prioritize the national interest and to rise to the challenges facing the Lebanese people.”

This assessment in the UN Security Council report succinctly summarizes Lebanon today, torn between a continuing decline and a struggling political system fighting itself while trying to re-orient its priorities. Having mostly survived the parliamentary elections, the traditional leaders insist on a slow-go strategy when it comes to reforms. There are some breaks in the gridlock: passing reforms to the Banking Secrecy Law, adopting the World Bank loan of $150 million to support wheat purchasing and distribution, raising some public sector salaries, and the promise of a national budget are all steps in the right direction.

There is legitimate concern over whether the various amendments to the Banking Secrecy Law will be passed or not and in what form; if the conditions of the World Bank loan will be met; and if the government can find some way to raise salaries without increasing the national debt.

The global crowd-sourced database, Numbeo, ranks the cost of living in Beirut as the 12th highest in the world and the highest in the Arab world, outranking Dubai (12 vs 208 globally). This means that the costs of living in Beirut are 98% higher for its residents than most of the 510 other places in the world that were tallied. Globally, groceries in Beirut are more expensive than those even in southern California, Geneva, and New York City, but cheaper than those in Zurich, Bern, and Honolulu. Similar comparisons were made regarding rent, restaurants, and consumer goods.

Given the deficiencies in the fiscal health of the country, the untouchable gold reserves, and the soon-to-decline bump in revenues once the tourism season is over, the government only has a few options. The country may dissipate into a fragile state that can neither pay its bills nor support is people, making its state of affairs easy prey for regional actors with malign intentions. It can adopt the necessary reforms to initiate the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recovery regime. As some have advanced already, the Lebanese government can ask for UN receivership to take over the country and manage its affairs.  While the last option has some support, given the political realities, leaving Lebanon to the hands of UN administrators is a fantasy for those who either don’t believe in the capacity of the system for recovery and renewal or have their own agendas.

The United Nations and the international community are ready to assist through multiple avenues once reforms are instituted. In the UN Sustainable Development Comprehensive Framework (UNSDCF) with Lebanon, the UN has made clear that adopting reforms is key to achieving the Framework and restoring investor confidence in the country. The UN’s assistance in promoting a development-based approach to recovery is based on the assumption that key structural reforms will be implemented. The UN has also said that it would develop a joint financing strategy to implement the UNSDCF and to ensure multiyear financing for key emergency development priorities.

What’s critical in this proposal and others from international donors is the emphasis on the implementation of a multisector approach that includes reforms to the government and the fiscal system, with an emphasis on reinvigorating the private sector and restoring economic activity in order for people to regain their livelihoods, strengthening and broadening the social safety net, and restructuring public services to sustain a broader base of community services, among others.

There are many papers indicating what must be done; how and by whom are the needed ingredients. In any scenario, there will be painful adjustments, and both the Parliamentary and government leadership must step up and respond to the public’s desperation before it turns into rage as in Sri Lanka. It is obvious to the political chiefs that the painful implementation of restructuring will reduce their hegemony and capacity to continue their control over state business.

Lebanon needs to take stock of what it must do to regain its sense of purpose and direction to once again become a land of opportunity and promise. This will require adjustments and shocks to the system to end the current status of prosperity for the few and remnants of a quality of life for the rest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 11/30/2021

DAILY NEWS


PM Miqati Discusses Resuming Cabinet Sessions with Speaker Berri
Two Shiite ministers announced they will boycott cabinet meetings until there is a “return to the constitutional and legal principles in the Beirut port blast investigation.” [Naharnet] Today, Prime Minister Najib Miqati met with Speaker Nabih Berri to seek help in holding a cabinet session which has been delayed since October 12. However Berri also insisted on “resolving the issue of Bitar first,” sources say. [Naharnet]

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Briefs Security Council
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka briefed the UN Security Council on Lebanon and the implementation of Resolution 1701 alongside Under Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UNFIL Force Commander Maj. Gen. Stefano del Col. Wronecka encouraged the formation of a government under Prime Minister Miqati as a positive development, but regretted that the government has not made progress towards reforms and said she hoped cabinet sessions would resume soon. Wronecka emphasized the importance of fair and transparent elections in Lebanon. [Naharnet]

President Aoun Seeks Reconciliation with Gulf Countries
President Michel Aoun gave an exclusive interview to Al Jazeera yesterday in which he said that Lebanon is seeking to reconcile relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. He dismissed Information Minister George Kordahi’s comments on the war in Yemen but clarified that he has not asked Kordahi to resign. [Al Jazeera] Regarding the Beirut Port investigation, he added that he does not agree with Hezbollah’s calls to dismiss Judge Tarek Bitar. [Al Arabiya]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


When to Say ‘No’ to Hezbollah’s Agenda
Jean AbiNader

AbiNader writes, “Hezbollah has been able, since its inception in the mid-1980s, to move from being the “resistance force” protecting Lebanon from Israel, to a fully participating actor in the political system with the capacity to bring the government to heel as its priorities dictate. One hears a query that if Lebanon would normalize relations with Israel or pass the baton on the Shebaa Farms brief to Syria, would the ‘resistance’ end and Hezbollah morph into a political force competing without the clout of a battle-hardened militia? The basic question this raises is will Hezbollah as a Lebanese entity or some hybrid that, as its Secretary General says, looks east to Iran for its raison d’être?”

Read more here

Carnegie Middle East Center
Is the Son Setting?
Michael Young

Young writes, “Saad al-Hariri may yet run in elections, though the strong possibility they may not happen is surely something he has factored into his decision. Whichever way Hariri leans, it’s obvious he’s preparing for a long period in the political wilderness. Lebanon may not be the worse for it, but nor is it reassuring that Sunnis should feel that their leaders alone are the ones being eliminated from the political landscape.”

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 9/28/2021

DAILY NEWS

PM Miqati to Meet With Lazard Over Financial Recovery Plan
Prime Minister Najib Miqati is explected to meet with the advisory firm Lazard to discuss a financial recovery plan the firm drafted for Lebanon. Miqati said he wants to see how it could be developed into a “more realistic” version. Lazard drafted a plan for the previous government as well, but the plan was shot down by banks concerned that they would be made to cover the bill for the financial collapse. The central bank and political elites also opposed the recovery plan. The IMF endorsed the previous plan and reaching a deal with the IMF includes the government coming to an agreement on the losses. [Reuters]

UN Security Council Calls on Lebanon to Make Reforms and Commit to a Policy of Dissociation
Yesterday the UN Security Council called on Lebanon to commit to a policy of dissociation from external conflicts. The statement was a reference to Hezbollah’s interventions in wars across the region including Syria. The Security Council also called on the new Lebanese government to implement reforms and for a “swift, independent, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation” into the Beirut Port explosion. [Al Arabiya]

Lebanese Man Dies From Beirut Port Injuries
Yesterday a Lebanese man who was injured by last year’s Beirut Port explosion died from his injuries. Ibrahim Harb was at his downtown office when the ammonium nitrate exploded and put Harb into a coma for the next three months. He then stayed in a rehabilitation center until three days ago when the family decided to bring him home. [AP]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


Middle East Institute
Power Sector Reforms Are New Lebanese Government’s Ultimate Test
Ali Ahmad, Mounir Mahmalat, Paul Noumba Um, Jamal Saghir

The authors write, “At the center of Lebanon’s economic woes, the energy sector alone has contributed to about 40% of the country’s public debt since 1992. Despite such high levels of spending, Lebanon’s electricity supply ranks among the worst worldwide, with near complete blackouts plaguing citizens during the summer heat of July and August. Simply put, Lebanon cannot afford to waste another opportunity to reform its electricity sector. A structural reform of the sector is of immediate priority to achieve economic recovery. Blocked for decades by political paralysis within an elite-level arrangement incapable of delivering reforms, Lebanon’s present-day crises offer a window of opportunity to finally deliver change. These crises can produce a new political settlement in which electricity sector reforms must be a major component. Chief among these reforms is the establishment and operationalization of an electricity regulatory authority (ERA), an independent institution tasked with, among other things, setting tariffs and supervising contracts with the private sector for electricity production and distribution.”

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

UNIFIL Mandate Renewed with LAF Support Provision

The UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2591 extends the UNIFIL mandate for another full year, recounting its efforts to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in ensuring security and stability between the Litani River and the southern boundary with Israel (the Blue Line).

It restated a number of points that illustrate the challenges to its mission. For example, the Resolution condemned the attacks on the UNIFIL and threats constraining its safety, freedom of movement, and access along the Blue Line. In that regard, the Council called on Lebanon to expedite its investigations into the attacks against UNIFIL and “bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice promptly.” A case brought in 1980 has only recently been settled by the Lebanese judiciary.

UNSCR 2591 also mentioned violations of the Blue Line by air (code for Israeli overflights) and land (code for Hezbollah and IDF excursions testing both sides), and called on all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities and fully cooperate with the UNIFIL. This is one of the core challenges to the UNIFIL’s capability to carry out its mission. It has not been granted permission by the Lebanese government to enter private property in pursuit of its investigations or probe the cross-border tunnels exposed by Israel two years ago. Additionally, Lebanese senior politicians have prohibited the LAF from various pursuits and arrests as in the case of the Hezbollah engineers captured by villagers in South Lebanon with rocket launchers, which were then returned and the men freed.

One would not be remiss in asking what role the UNIFIL can undertake under so many restraints.

The first defense of UNIFIL’s role is its relationship with the LAF which has endured for 15 years and raised the LAF’s profile as the most respected government institution in the country. A key element in this has been the regular tripartite meetings among the IDF and LAF, mediated by the UNIFIL, which have been a stabilizing factor in the region as the only forum between Lebanese and Israeli representatives. The UNSC encouraged the parties to expand these meetings in order to “resolve the conflict and build confidence.”

As a one-time measure, the UNSC asked the international community to take exceptional measures to support the Lebanese Armed Forces logistically and with non-lethal items (fuel, food, and medicine) for a period of six months, and within the limits of local resources. Putting support for the LAF on the agenda of the international community is critical for its survival until Lebanon achieves some degree of normalcy.

The Resolution did not exempt Lebanon’s leadership from its critical language: “Strongly urging the Lebanese political leaders to form, without further delay and with a sense of urgency, a new Government which can respond to the needs and aspirations of the Lebanese population and the current main challenges Lebanon is facing, in particular the reconstruction of Beirut, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of reforms, which are absolutely necessary to overcome and recover from the current and unprecedented acute social, economic, and humanitarian crises, expressing grave concern about the obstacles to the political process and implementation of the necessary reforms, and calling on the Lebanese authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure the conduct of elections in 2022 according to the planned schedule…”

Finally, the UNSC made note of two enduring issues by calling on Israel “to expedite the withdrawal of its army from northern Ghajar without further delay in coordination with UNIFIL, which has actively engaged Israel and Lebanon to facilitate such a withdrawal; [and] Reaffirms its call on all States to fully support and respect the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani River of an area free of any armed personnel, assets, and weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL.” While resolving these points is clearly aspirational at this point, it is important to restate the basic mission of the UNIFIL in Lebanon.

One further note: it is past time for the UNSC to aggressively address the issue of smuggling across the Lebanese-Syrian border which continues to undermine and erode the Lebanese economy. Political forces on both sides are profiting from the pain of millions of Lebanese deprived of food, medications, and fuel that was subsidized in Lebanon and moved across the border where they are sold at a great profit.

The LAF is supposed to have responsibility for border security and the UNIFIL shares some of that role in the South, but the egregious behavior of the Lebanese political mafia in limiting the LAF’s freedom of action only deepens the trust deficit between the people and many in the leadership of the country.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 8/31/2021

DAILY NEWS


UNIFIL Mandate Extended With Extra Provision for Lebanese Army
Yesterday evening the UN Security Council extended the mandate for UNIFIL for another year through Resolution 1701. The Security Council adopted the 2591 decision, which adds exceptional measures including logistical support for the Lebanese army and supplies of fuel, food, and medicine for six months. [The 961]

Major General Abbas Ibrahim Leads Government Mediation Efforts
Yesterday in an effort to break political deadlock, head of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim led mediation efforts between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati. Envoys from the two leaders shuttled back and forth between Baabda Palace and Miqati’s Beirut residence with lists of proposed candidates for key ministries, sources say. [The Daily Star] Hezbollah encouraged Ibrahim’s efforts to break the deadlock. [Naharnet]

Flour Millers’ Association Warns Production Will Cease Without Fuel
Today Lebanon’s flour millers’ association said in a statement that fuel shortages are threatening to halt bread production.The association called on Lebanese officials to “work quickly before it is too late” and that mills’ fuel oil supply has run out and production could cease as early as today. [Reuters]

Gas Station in Flames in Bcharre District
Last night a loud explosion was heard in Lebanon’s northern district of Bcharre, followed by a gas station in Hadath al-Jebbe going up in flames. Civil defense teams put out the fire and security forces are investigating the incident. [Al Arabiya]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


Carnegie Middle East Center
Lebanon Needs an Emergency Stabilization Program
Amer Bisat

Bisat writes, “While a comprehensive reform plan will eventually be necessary, the country needs to immediately arrest its collapse. The nation’s fabric is effectively being torn apart. The economy is in a depression, inflation is startlingly high, the currency is imploding, there are widespread shortages in basic goods, the health system is failing, emigration is accelerating, civil disorder is rampant, and the Lebanese people are witnessing an alarming rise in sectarian tensions. Due to all of this, it is necessary to introduce an emergency stabilization program (ESP) that seeks to achieve basic—some would say rudimentary—objectives. These include ending the economic depression and injecting much-needed capital into the economy, reducing shortages of basic goods, bringing back core government services, stabilizing the currency, and controlling inflation. For this to be successful, the ESP must be politically feasible, simple enough to be rolled out quickly—in as short a period as one hundred days—and must show immediate results.”

Read more here


Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 8/20/2021

DAILY NEWS


US to Assist Lebanon with Electricity
Yesterday President Michel Aoun’s office said that the United States will be assisting Lebanon with electricity provisions as the country faces severe fuel shortages. The assistance includes the provision of Egyptian natural gas to Jordan for generation into additional electricity that can be transmitted to Lebanon through Syria. It also includes the transfer of natural gas to Lebanon. [Reuters]

Aoun Calls on UN to Address Israel’s Airspace Violations
Israel conducted airstrikes on Syria Thursday night that reportedly killed four Hezbollah fighters. [Al Arabiya] In a meeting today with UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka, President Michel Aoun called on the UN to address Israel’s violations of Lebanon’s airspace following the airstrikes on Syria. [Naharnet]

Miqati Reportedly Close to Resignation
Yesterday President Michel Aoun accused unnamed parties of seeking to obstruct the formation of a new government. The president’s office said in a statement, “several forces are working to prevent the creation of a government and are determined to push the country towards chaos in order to fulfill their political aims.” [Reuters]
Sources say that Aoun is still trying to obtain a “block one-third” in the cabinet line-up. Prime Minister-designate Miqat reportedly considered handing in his resignation, but was convinced to stay until after Friday’s parliamentary session. [Naharnet]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


Middle East Institute
Lebanon is a tinderbox, and Lebanese politicians have started dropping matches
Christophe Abi-Nassif and Jean AbiNader

Abi-Nassif and AbiNader write, “Left untreated, the situation in the coming weeks will, without a doubt, derail the prospects of a Lebanese recovery for many years, perhaps decades, and have destabilizing regional repercussions…More than ever before, constructive international engagement would warrant the following steps: Double down on humanitarian relief efforts to slow the pace of the collapse, shield the most vulnerable Lebanese citizens and refugee communities, and prevent a massive explosion of violence…Although essential, humanitarian efforts remain only a palliative for Lebanon’s symptoms rather than a cure for its structural and political ailments. Therefore, and as part of a unified and all-encompassing international effort, deploy every possible diplomatic tool and pressure to push toward the immediate formation of a government…Insist, with all means available, on holding the scheduled parliamentary elections in the spring of 2022. As importantly, coordinate a global monitoring and enforcement effort on the ground to ensure that both the elections and the buildup toward them are conducted fairly and freely.”

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Rusted Radishes: Beirut Literary and Art Journal
The Blast
Eveline Hitti

Hitti writes, “Across the city that night, medical teams had put aside their own loss and fears, gallantly hurling themselves into action. Demolished hospitals were evacuated. Flooded EDs were emptied. Operating rooms ran without reprieve. Decisions were made amidst unimaginable constraints. Physical wounds were closed, and moral ones opened. Today, almost six months post-Blast, the scars on my colleagues’ faces are barely noticeable. The displaced doors of our ED are back up on their hinges. The glass panes of my house have been replaced. Our passports are tucked back in the reachable safety of my bedroom drawers. While some wounds heal, others remain painfully visible. Resignations sit on my desk, leaving the line of medical teams facing the now raging pandemic thinned out and weary. For many, distance is the path to recovery. For others, it is clawing on to the promise of meaningful service in the land they were forced to leave once before.”

Read more here


Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 7/23/2021

DAILY NEWS


Lebanon to Stop Fuel Deliveries
Reports say that Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy and Water will stop delivering diesel amid the fuel crisis because its supplies have run dry except for limited emergency quantities. [Middle East Monitor] Iraq is expected to deliver one million tons of fuel to Lebanon to resume power plant operations after an agreement is signed this weekend. [The Daily Star]

UN Lebanon Envoy Speaks With UN Security Council
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka met with the UN Security Council yesterday to discuss the implementation of Resolution 1701 with the aim of enhancing Lebanon’s security and sovereignty. Wronecka reiterated the need for a “fully empowered government” in Lebanon that can work toward reforms and she praised the efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain the country’s stability. [Arab News]

Former PM Najib Mikati Favored to Form a Government
Sources say that former Prime Minister Najib Mikati is the “most favorite candidate” to be named the new prime minister-designate. Parliamentary consultations will take place on Monday to officially name the next prime minister-designate who will attempt to form a cabinet after former Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s resignation. [Daily Star]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


SDRs: For The People Or For The Government
Jean AbiNader

AbiNader writes, “While it is attractive to use the SDRs to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the Lebanese, it does not excuse the caretaker government or parliament from taking responsibility for economic reforms. This appears to be a calculated move by politicians to gain traction in the upcoming elections by rewarding their constituents with cash cards purchased at the cost of the country’s longer term economic stability and financial integrity. They are literally holding the cards at this point and the Lebanese people will only really win by changing the game in the spring elections.”

Read more here

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 05/26/21

May 26, 2021

DAILY NEWS


Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Briefing
Yesterday Najat Rochdi, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, briefed the UN Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security on Lebanon’s state of crisis and the effect it is having on women. She urged that in order for recovery efforts in Lebanon to be sustainable, they must be inclusive of women. Rochdi further recognized the prominent role of women both in protests and political movements, and local peacebuilding and mediation efforts. [Naharnet]

S&P Global Report Says Bail-In for Depositors Likely
In a new report S&P Global said there is likely to be a “bail-in” for Lebanese bank depositors in order for the banking sector to absorb the costs of financial restructuring. This might look like paying depositors below-market exchange rates or converting their deposits into equity, the report said. [Al Arabiya] On Monday central bank governor Riad Salameh said depositors’ money was safe and announced a plan that would release $50,000 per deposited in June. [Reuters]

Nasrallah Comments on Aggression in Jerusalem
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah gave a televised speech yesterday, his first since a ceasefire was called between Israel and Hamas last week. He commented on hostilities in Jerusalem and said that any aggression on Jerusalem’s holy sites would mean regional war. [Reuters]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


Bring the Planners Back! Displacement-Triggered Patterns of Urbanization and City Responses
Mona Fawaz, Mona Harb, Carla Al-Hage
The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

Lebanon Daily News Brief 05/25/21

DAILY NEWS


Salameh Discusses New Dollar Withdrawal Plan
In an interview with Al Hadath yesterday, central bank governor Riad Salameh discussed a new plan that will allow depositors to finally access their US dollars in Lebanese banks. Starting in June, depositors will be able to withdraw $50,000 which means $25,000 in US dollar bills and the other $25,000 in Lebanese pounds at the market exchange rate. [Al Arabiya]

UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon Running Out of Funds
Amid Lebanon’s economic crises, the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon has run out of funding. The tribunal that was set up to prosecute perpetrators of PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination in 2005 is in financial trouble which puts future trials at risk. [Reuters]

Political Talks Resume Upon Hariri’s Return to Beirut
Talks have resumed between political leaders regarding the formation of a government upon Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s return to Beirut. Sources say Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement officials showed “flexibility” after a conversation with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. [Naharnet] In a statement from the UN office in Beirut, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Najat Rochdi urged the formation of a government that is “competent, empowered, and representative of its people.” [The Daily Star]

OPINION & ANALYSIS


Standing Up For Lebanon – Recent US Words and Actions
Jean AbiNader

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.

This Week In Lebanon: 5/23/2021

May 23, 2021
US Congress Members Urge Support for Lebanon
International Support Group for Lebanon Meeting in Beirut
Syrian Voters Attacked on Their Way to Beirut

US Congress Members Urge Support for Lebanon
Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Blinken this week urging the United States to respond to Lebanon’s deteriorating situation. They recommended coordinated aid to the country, support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, and for an independent investigation into last summer’s explosion at the Port of Beirut. [Al-Monitor]

ANALYSIS

“Chairman Meeks and the congressional co-signers reaffirm Lebanon’s importance on the agenda of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. They understand the multi-dimensional aspects of a strong US policy: firm international diplomacy advocating a government capable of addressing the needs of the Lebanese citizens, international aid for those who suffer from the effects of incompetent governance, and steadfast support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, which is dedicated to the protecting the rights of its citizens. This letter and a companion letter sent by the House US-Lebanon Friendship Caucus keep the Lebanon issue front and center with the Biden administration and offer a roadmap for stabilizing its US interests in the eastern Mediterranean and for curbing the influence of Iran.”
-ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel


International Support Group for Lebanon Meeting in Beirut
The International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG) met in Beirut on Wednesday to assess Lebanon’s situation. The group took note of further economic and social decline in the country and called on political leaders to form a government. ISG also called for elections to occur on time and for impacts from any subsidy changes on economic and social well-being to be mitigated. [Naharnet]

ANALYSIS

“Once again the ISG has spoken out in support of the people of Lebanon, calling on the political leadership to undertake the reforms critical to the country’s survival, holding the elections on time, and maintaining humanitarian support for the populace. Is there any responsible world leader or organization that is not calling on the leadership to reform or step aside? It is exhausting to hear time and time again the need for transformation only to watch the oligarchy continue to ignore reality.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader


Syrian Voters Attacked on Their Way to Beirut
On Thursday Lebanese mobs attacked Syrian refugees and expatriates on their way to cast their vote at for the Syrian presidential election at the Syrian embassy in Beirut. The groups attacked were said to be organized to vote for President Bashar Assad and were identified by those chanting slogans in support of Assad and carrying banners with the president’s picture. [Arab News]

ANALYSIS

“The pent-up frustration of the Lebanese is being directed toward Syrians in Lebanon who are voting in the Syrian presidential elections at their embassy in Beirut. This has drawn the ire of opposition leaders and common people who can’t rectify why someone claiming refugee status would vote for Assad whose policies created the exodus from Syria in the first place. While the US and other countries are calling the election a sham, it is puzzling to understand the disconnect between those living on relief provided by the international community, and some who are supporting the regime that made them refugees in the first place.”
-ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.